C’est Magnifique! NSW’s Largest French Market Is Happening Locally

Date: Sunday, November 17th
Time: 9am – 4pm
Location: Killarney Heights Public School, 10 Tralee Ave, Killarney Heights
Admission: Free

October 31, 2024

Attracting nearly 10,000 visitors each year, get set for the fabulous French Market at Killarney Heights Public School!

Francophiles and market lovers will be delighted to know Killarney Heights Public School grounds are soon being turned into a beautiful French market.

On Sunday November 17th, FANS (French-speaking Association of the North Shore) are celebrating all things French, bringing together stallholders with culinary delights, clothing, music, and artisanal goods.

Visitors will be able to shop for classic berets, rillettes, and antipasti, and even participate in a French book sale. There are also plenty of activities for kids, such as carnival games, rides, face painting, and treats such as fairy floss and snow cones.

Initially started as a simple school fete, the Killarney French Market is now considered one of the most significant French cultural events in Australia. It aims to bring people together to celebrate and engage with all things French. Children can enjoy playing traditional French playground games, while adults can peruse the carefully snap up authentic French artisan goods.

A man in a white hat peruses a stall marked 'Paris Le Metro' at the French Market at Killarney Heights Public School.

What’s more, this event is volunteer-run, and all proceeds support the FANS bilingual program. This French language education program helps to foster a multicultural identity and sense of global citizenship.

In Killarney Heights Public School’s bilingual program, students learn parts of the NSW curriculum from native French-speaking teachers, which fosters and maintains bilingualism in fluent and non-native speakers. As a result, the program has been awarded the ‘Label FrancEducation’ by the French Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs. FANS also offers extracurricular French classes for high school students, and a variety of cultural events.